UNIQUE FOODS YOU SIMPLY MUST TRAVEL FOR

If your life as a traveler, goes hand-in-hand with your life as a foodie, then you know one of the best perks of being a traveler is enjoying all of the culinary treats around the country. Yes, you’ve had Tex-Mex in Texas, deep dish pizza in Chicago and a slice of pie in New York, cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, gumbo in Louisiana and crab in Maryland.

Consider that step one.

Today we’re going to give you a list of other taste sensations you simply must try. Some of them may not be on your radar yet, but once you enjoy them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

1. The Juicy Lucy. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the home of a cheeseburger like no other. While you can get an amazing regular cheeseburger anywhere, you have to come to the Land Of 10,000 Lakes to get a burger with the cheese on the inside. A slice of cheese inside the patty makes this a delicious, if messy (perhaps, also at times, dangerous), treat.

2. Dungeness crab. Maryland isn’t the only state known for its crab. Travel across the country and you’ll see that Dungeness crab is incredibly popular in Seattle, Washington. Available in sandwiches, stews, pastas and … more creative offerings, this delicacy is almost as large a mainstay in the Seattle diet as coffee.

3. Toasted ravioli. No, that’s not a typo, toasted ravioli is actually a thing and it’s incredibly popular in and around St. Louis, Missouri, or anywhere in the Midwest if you ask us. Served with a side of marinara in most cases, this tasty treat can be eaten as an appetizer, a main course or whenever the craving strikes you. Be warned, once you pop one, you'll ask for them at ANY Italian spot you eat out at afterwards. Those tasty treats bring Italian apps to another level.

4. Burnt ends. Say what? Burnt anything doesn’t seem worth traveling for, right? Well, they are NOT technically “burnt.” It’s simply a way to describe the extra “love” these smokey, sticky, delicious, caramelized beef nuggets get on the smoker, after their brisket counterpart gets taken off. Burnt ends are flavorful pieces of meat cut directly from the “point” half of a smoked brisket. Then stuck back on the smoker to caramelize and soak in even more flavor. Usually, this leaves them with one side caramelized perfectly and slightly crispy, one side melt-in-your-mouth tender. So, where do I find these BBQ nuggets of goodness, you ask? Kansas City, Missouri, the birthplace of the burnt end, seems to be one of the few places they are a main stay of BBQ spots. No joke, we’ve traveled to Texas – a state who claims to reign as king on brisket - and even though it’s part of the same cut of meat, some have never heard of burnt ends down there!

5. Hot browns. Hash browns are enjoyed all across the country, but for some one-of-a-kind hot browns, you have to head to Louisville, Kentucky. This open-faced sandwich commonly includes turkey and bacon, covered in Mornay sauce, but you can also add mushrooms, tomatoes or canned peaches if the mood strikes you.

That's our list for today. How many of these have you tried? Which ones make the list for your next travel assignment?